Problems finding Sonos system when using powerlink adaptor to extend home network

Lyricist III

Hello all

I’m new, so please be gentle. I read the thread with interest, but I’m not in any way a techy person (part of the appeal of the Sonos products is how easy they are for luddites to use), but I have the problem that most of the posters above have.

Background: I’ve had Sonos for about 10 years, and it served me well, however given a move to a larger house and need for more WIFI signal in my kitchen to facilitate working from home, I’ve had to buy a TP-Link powerline.

My set up: Router in Living Room (front of house), connected by Ethernet to a ZP120. I have another ZP in master bedroom (directly above Living Room. I have a Play5 in the kitchen. There is a TP-Link Powerline adaptor (configured to have same name/password as the router) in the kitchen.

Notwithstanding the Ethernet connection to the Router, the mesh always defaults to starting from the TP-Link Powerline adapter (and if it turn the TP link off, and back on, the mesh will again, re-build from the TP-Link). So if my phone is connected to the cloned Wifi from the TP Link, I can use Sonos. If it’s connected to the Router I cannot control Sonos. This means if I am in my bedroom, I need to run to the other side of the house, toggle the WiFi, connect to the TP-Link and change the music/vol.

That is annoying.

I appreciate Sonos is unable (or unwilling) to find a fix. People have taken some rather entrenched views on the problem, and it is a problem. My view, Sonos bend over backwards to accommodate any blips with IOS connections, but ignore this issue entirely. They are not entirely “upfront” as you don’t know you’ve got an issue until you install a TP link and find it all goes to pot (no-one trawls over FAQs until they’ve got an actual problem).

For me, I don’t really care. I like my Sonos and I want an actual solution (if I have to buy something new to fix it, I am open to considering it). I am about to undertake a massive renovation of my house, which will make it bigger and amplify the problem. If it can work, I’ll probably end up buying 2x Play 5, and 2 x play 3, and maybe a soundbar.

So I’m left with swapping the TP Link for an alternative way to get high-speed internet in my house (will, for example Google WiFI solve it, or is that just the same?), or just eBaying all of my current Sonos kit and getting something else.

In short is there another way (which is simple to do and doesn’t require a degree in computing/electronics) to get strong wifi throughout a building with thick walls and still leave Sonos controllable from anywhere in the building. Wifi extenders won’t do…

Thanks

JulesGS

Lyricist I

Just connect your Sonos to the TP Link directly with an Ethernet cable.
Should do it.

PS: make sure there is only one wifi in all your house

I am not clear what you mean by 'the mesh always defaults to starting from the powerline adapter'. Could you explain please?

Also, have you set up the adapter to act in 'access point' mode, sometimes known as 'bridge' mode? (It may be that there is no other option, but just wondered if you had had to do it.)

Also, are your controllers iOS or Android?

Lyricist III

Thanks, I tried what JulesGS suggested but no joy.

Sorry if it’s not clear (as I said I’m not techy so am trying to shoe-horn my understanding into this!).

As I understand the TP-Link Powerline Adaptor, it create a new WIFI network. That TP-link network has the SAME NAME as the main network, so whichever network is broadcasting strongest, then the one my phone automatically switches to it without me being prompted to do anything.

Even though they have the same name, I’m calling them Network 1 and 2 here.

Network 1 is the router, and has a ZP120 hard wired to it by Ethernet cable.
Network 2 is the TP Link, and is close to a Play 5.

The mesh always starts from Network 2, as I understand it. This is because when I am in the kitchen, on Network2 I can control Sonos anywhere in the house. When I go into the Livingroom, my phone latches onto Network 1, as that is out of range of Network2. I get the “Searching for Sonos System…” screen on the app and then the app says "we cannot connect".

I don’t want to make the Sonos mesh from Network 1. I don’t care which one the mesh starts from. All I want is for my phone to be able to control the Sonos from Network 1 and Network 2. I recognise this is purely down to having a TP Link Powerline adaptor. Sonos don't seem able to code software to support it, but I need to use one as my house is solid brick construction and the router doesn't reach to all ends of my modest house.

If that means buying some new kit (i.e. does the Google Wifi system work differently to TP Link), then I will do that.

If it cannot be accommodated, I’ll just sell the Sonos system and buy something that works. It would be a shame to have to do that, as I like Sonos a lot and am about to add 2 extra bedrooms and an extra living space to my house, so wanted to add more to the network.

By the way, the phone is android (but my wife has the same issue with her iPhone).

OK. Your understanding of what is going on with the networking is rather astray, but let's leave that for the moment. I'll make a suggestion that I think will give you a workable solution for your Android controller, although it isn't dealing with the fundamental issue. I also need to check a few things with you in the hope of finding a complete solution.

In your Android app, go to Settings, Advanced Settings, Connect to SonosNet. Check the box so that you see 'Allow Connection'. Then in your phone's wifi settings you should see a network name starting 'Sonos.....'. Connect to that. Now see if you can control Sonos from anywhere in the house. Please post back either way.

A couple of questions.
1. What make and model is your router?
2. In the Sonos app, under 'About My Sonos System', every device will have either WM:0 or WM;! next to it. What do yours say?

Lyricist III

Interesting. That worked, but unfortunately it had a drastic effect on broadband speeds (I went from 42mbps to 0.8mbps).
My router is a Technicolor TG589vac. My connect:amp, connect and Play:5 (old model) all have WM:0. I have a redundant Sonos Controller (not in use the bottom half of the touch screen doesn't work), it doesn't have any WM 0 or ! value.

thanks

I assume you mean just on the phone??!! I would have expected a drop on the phone but not to that extent.

Thanks for info. This means that your speakers are all connecting to SonosNet OK, but I would have expected that. Do you know what wireless protocols your router is set to handle? It would say something like 'b/g/n mixed' or 'n only'?

Actually I have a more basic troubleshooting question. If you turn off the powerline adapter, and leave it off, and your phones connect to the router wifi, can you connect to the Sonos system?

If you cannot connect to Sonos when on the router wifi, and the extender is turned off (and I suspect that is how it will be) then I am starting to think the extender isn't the issue at all, but is actually giving you a partial workaround to a problem between your router and Sonos. But I shall wait for your responses before I pursue that one further.